For most of us an annual holiday abroad is a picture of paradise, warm sunny beaches, good food and most importantly a time to relax and forget about the worries of home. There is however that risk of a nightmare scenario; you or someone in your family has an holiday accident, is injured or is ill in some way, and you end up paying a fortune for treatment, or worse, not getting any at all, just because you forgot to do your homework before jetting off to paradise. The following are a few simple tips to ensure this nightmare doesn’t become a reality.

European Health Insurance Card – When travelling in Europe, the European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC, is an absolute must. It allows you to access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. It is important to realise however that the EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or lost or stolen property. Applications for the card are free, and are valid for up to 5 years.

Countries Outside the EU – If travelling outside the EU it is very important that you check for the specific country you are travelling to online on the NHS website – www.nhs.co.uk. Some areas such as Australia and Gibraltar have reciprocal agreements with the UK, meaning healthcare will be provided; however as above do check before travelling, as certain factors often apply.
Travel Insurance – Travel insurance is basically "insurance that is intended to cover medical expenses and financial (such as money invested in nonrefundable pre-payments) and other losses incurred while travelling, either within one’s own country, or internationally." This is another necessary process to go through before travelling, and if you are going on a package holiday don’t assume travel insurance is included. If you do have to make a holiday claim, you’ll be covered by your insurance. There are many insurance comparison sites on the net that will aid in finding cheap travel insurance for the whole family, so there are no excuses to leave anything to chance.